Lens on ‘VIP’ life of Unitech owners in jail
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court was informed by a city judge on Friday that ‘prohibited items’ such as LED TV, coconut water, crates of mineral water, badminton rackets and household items were found in the cell of prisoners Sanjay Chandra and his brother Ajay — owner-directors of real estate firm Unitech Ltd. The two brothers are lodged in Tihar jail for allegedly cheating home buyers.
Additional sessions judge Ramesh Kumar-ii submitted the report to the bench of chief justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar Rao. The bench has sought response of the Delhi government, director general (prison) and other jail officers while fixing the next date of hearing on February 1, 2019.
Additional sessions judge Kumar-ii inspected the jail premises on September 4 after some inmates sent a letter to the high court chief justice alleging corruption and nexus between prisoner and jail officials. In their letter, they had alleged that some prisoners, such as the Chandra brothers, were ‘enjoying an extra luxurious life in Tihar Jail’ with a ‘separate VIP ward’, while others were deprived of basic necessities.the judge in his report has recommended an FIR against jail officials, indicating ‘corruption and grave misuse of power.’
According to the judge’s report, apart from household items — like mattresses, mustard oil, footmats and stools — in their cell, the brothers had a separate ‘office’ room with a computer and internet, a printer and Aquafina mineral water supply.
Jail officials said the two brothers were given the facilities as per the Supreme Court order. “The Apex court has directed us to give them a room with computer and internet facility. Mineral water and coconut water is available for all prisoners in the canteen. The mats, oils and other items too are available. We are yet to get a copy of the report. Until that we cannot comment,” a prison officer said.
The judge has noted that the brand of mineral water available in the canteen was different from the one he found in the cell. Vishal Gosain, counsel for the Chandra brothers said his clients were not enjoying no luxurious facilities. Gosain said the room was given on the Supreme Court to facilitate meetings with foreign clients and arrange ₹750 crore for returning to home buyers.